- May 14, 2025
- Student Blog
When people think of an MBA, they imagine boardroom simulations, complex presentations, and maybe even suits and jargon. But the truth? The real transformation happens in the background in the unplanned chaos, the group disagreements, the sleepless assignment nights, and the unexpected responsibilities that shape who you become.
As an MBA student, I didn’t just learn from lectures. I learned from life on campus. Here’s how.
1. Group Projects: My First Leadership Lab
Group assignments were never just about dividing slides and submitting on time. They became the place where I learned to listen, lead, adapt, and sometimes accept failure gracefully.
Every project was a mirror reflecting how I behaved under pressure. It taught me how to balance personalities, respect opinions, and stay solution-oriented. These lessons? They now guide me every time I sit in a team discussion.
2. Clubs and Committees: Mini Corporates in Disguise
Being part of various student-led clubs pushed me into uncharted waters. Organizing events, managing logistics, preparing reports, planning strategies all while juggling academics felt like running a startup.
It wasn’t just about participation. It was about being accountable, staying creative under pressure, and learning to bring people together. I became more resourceful, confident, and capable of handling diverse challenges skills no workshop can teach in a day.
3. Presentations: The Power of Voice and Vision
From the very first week, I found myself presenting ideas, strategies, or even impromptu opinions in front of peers. At first, it was terrifying. But soon, it became my strength.
Every presentation polished my ability to communicate clearly, stay composed, and back my ideas with confidence. It wasn’t just about speaking; it was about connecting a skill that every intern must master to stand out.
4. Case Studies: Real Businesses, Real Thinking
Case studies weren’t just academic exercises. They made me think like a problem-solver. Whether it was decoding a failing strategy or proposing a market entry plan, I learned to analyse data, think critically, and take decisions with impact.
This approach of breaking down problems to build solutions is now second nature, and will prove priceless during summer internships and beyond.
5. Innovation Through Constraints
MBA life isn’t smooth. Sometimes, resources are limited, time is short, or the team is unaligned. But that’s where innovation kicks in.
From building creative campaigns with zero budgets to handling last-minute changes in events or projects, I learned to stay calm, be flexible, and think differently, traits that the corporate world values deeply.
6. The Ultimate Test: Managing Everything Together
The toughest part of my journey wasn’t a single event, it was balancing everything at once. Classes, club duties, assignments, brainstorming sessions, and quick turnarounds.
But that constant juggling taught me how to prioritize, delegate, and still deliver quality habits that are essential when stepping into any high-pressure professional role.
The Bigger Picture
Without realizing it, my first year shaped me. Not with lectures alone, but through every case discussion, every club meeting, every team debate, and every silent moment when I chose to step up.
This journey wasn’t about learning definitions. It was about becoming ready. And I now know when I walk into my summer internship I’m not walking in unprepared. I carry the unseen strength of every experience I’ve had so far.
Harshita Soni
Jaipur, Rajasthan
MBA 1st Year Student
Universal Ai University
